Magic & high standards: Midsummer at Glyndebourne

Interview

"Peter Hall's Midsummer is the first 'traditional' production of this opera that I have been a part of. It is specific without being rigid, magical without being obvious, and true to the story and setting. It is important to not shy away from the harshness within Midsummer, and to acknowledge the individual journeys of each of the characters, joyful and pitiful, alike."

Musicians, sexual harassment, & blurred lines

Editorial

Jokes about double-entendre music terms ("fingering," "tongue tension," "G-string," etc.), invasion of personal space (teaching by demonstration), and (perhaps) innocent flirting; all of these commonplace pieces of sexual harassment are perhaps more dangerous when combined with a captive audience of sorts.

Hilarity: stereotypes from choir

Humour

We laughed out loud at Cassie Kutev's YouTube video, where she "interviews" select members of a choir, from Soprano I to Bass II. Our favourite quotable quote from the "Tap...water? I want sparkling. I'm a diva. We sparkle."

Hilarity: how good are your gargling skills?

Humour

Honestly, can't you just picture her practicing this at home? Our bet is that many of you are now off to test your gargle-singing skills.

Nate Douglas: "Writing songs is fun."

Interview

"I know a lot of people that like to sing and play, but they don't really like it the way I like it," admits Douglas. "If you really like something you'll just keep doing it. I didn't know how much I like it until really recently."

Don't miss: Anthropologies imaginaires

News

"The experts on screen comment on invented vocal traditions demonstrated by the singer-performer. Various odd or isolated vocal expressions from around the world are woven together and revisited through imaginary folklore and experimental voice techniques, showcasing the virtuosity, versatility, and strangeness of the human voice."

Tales from the Kammeroper at Rheinsberg Castle

Interview

"I think the most important thing I've learned working in Germany over the summer is patience and flexibility during the rehearsal process. With so many people coming from various backgrounds and with so much interpreting and so many languages, you have to be patient with both yourself and everyone else as we all slowly but surely figure out the story we want to tell."

Spotlight on: Will Liverman

Interview

"I enjoy singing because of the rush I get every time I'm onstage. There's absolutely nothing like it and there's nothing better than having that chance to move someone to tears or laughter through the power of music and performance."

What else are singers great at?

Editorial

When singers travel for work, they're not just choosing to spend time alone; for weeks or months at a time, singers are on their own in a new city, often without friends or family to keep them company. Loneliness can set in, or even boredom, both dangerous things when your job depends on your physical and mental health.

Great ideas: Portland Opera à la Cart

Editorial

A Portland Opera-style cart is a brilliant way of showcasing opera presented by one or several companies; in the same way that a picture is worth a thousand words, offering up short bites of opera to listeners is the perfect marketing campaign to lure audiences to future full-length productions.